Francis Meli

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Francis Meli
fullname = Francis Meli
nickname = Roger


image_size= 200px
caption =
country =
position = Wing
currentclub = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
clubnumber = 5
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|4|7
placeofbirth = flagicon|SAM Apia
countryofbirth = Samoa
height = 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)
weight = 15 st 6 lbs (98 kg)
club1 = Leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 NZ Warriors
year1start = 1999
year1end = 2006
appearances1 = 110
tries1 = 60
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 240
club2 = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
year2start = 2006
year2end = present
appearances2 = 72
tries2 = 39
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 156
teamA = leagueicon|Samoa|size=16 Samoa
yearAstart = 2000
yearAend =
appearancesA = 3
triesA = 0
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 0
teamB = leagueicon|New Zealand kiwis|16 New Zealand
yearBstart = 2001
yearBend = 2004
appearancesB = 14
triesB = 6
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 24
updated =
source =

Francis Meli (born April 27, 1979 in Apia, Samoa) is a New Zealand rugby league player, currently playing for St Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented New Zealand in fourteen test matches between 2001 and 2005. His usual position is wing.

Meli scored a New Zealand Warriors' record 23 tries in the 2003 NRL season. He scored 5 of those tries in a single finals game against the Canterbury Bulldogs, a feat still unparalleled in the finals.

Francis Meli recently committed his future to St Helens by signing a long term contract.

He has been named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750|title=Samoa name World Cup Squad|publisher=League Unlimited|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-08-06]

He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final defeat to the Leeds Rhinos.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642170.stm|title=2008 Grand Final|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-05]

He has been named in the Samoa squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm|title=Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-09]

Career Profile

*"Junior Club:" City Marist
*"First Grade Debut:" Round 9, Auckland v South Sydney at Ericsson Stadium, May 2, 1999
*"Career Stats:" 110 career games to date scoring 60 tries

References

External links

* [http://www.warriors.co.nz/page/auto/1112244698:8727:7522:40319090.html Francis Meli Official Player Profile]
* [http://www.nrl.com/myclub/players.cfm?TeamID=6&PlayerID=298 Francis Meli NRL Player Profile]